If Christianity is true,
how can this be?
“I have to doubt any religion that has so
many fanatics and hypocrites,” insisted
Helen, a law student. “There are so many
people who are not religious at all who
are more kind and even more moral than
many of the Christians I know.”
“Christianity has (by certain people) been
used throughout history as an excuse for
some of the most brutal, heartless, and
senseless atrocities known to man. The
historical examples are not difficult to
recall: the Crusades; the Inquisition; the
witch-burnings; the Holocaust… I did not
see much in Christianity that I
considered worth having.”
Ken Schei - Atheist
Christianity is responsible for
significant injustices and
abuses throughout the
centuries.
Christianity is responsible for
significant injustices and abuses
throughout the centuries.
- How is this statement, at least, partially
true?
Reason 1 –
Many of the abuses carried out in
the name of Christianity were
NOT carried out by Christians.
- Matthew 7:21-23
Reason 2 –
When Christians have been
responsible for injustice and
abuse, they have been acting
contrary to the teachings of
Christ.
Reason 3 –
Christians aren’t perfect, just
forgiven.
Shouldn’t Christians on the
whole be better people than
everyone else?
The
church is a hospital for
sinners, not a museum for
saints.
Quick Review –
1.
2.
3.
Many abuses attributed to Christianity
were not done by Christians.
When Christians have been at fault, they
have been acting contrary to the
teachings of Christ.
Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.
Christopher Hitchens, the author
of God is NOT Great: How
Religion Spoils Everything,
argues that orthodox religion
inevitably leads to violence. His
argument is that religion takes
racial and cultural differences
and aggravates them.
Reason 4 –
The real issue runs deeper than
Christianity or even religion.
Religion is only one of many
influences that can make one
person feel superior to another.
Great abuses have taken place
under communist regimes that
deny the existence of God.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Many abuses attributed to Christianity
were not done by Christians.
When Christians have been at fault,
they have been acting contrary to the
teachings of Christ.
Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.
The real issue runs deeper than
Christianity or even religion. It’s a
matter of the heart.
Statement of the problem – The
more strongly Christians believe
that they are right, the more
insistent and aggressive they will
be in trying to persuade others
to believe as they do.
If the essence of Christianity is
salvation by grace, this is profoundly
humbling.
“For Christians, …the antidote is not
to tone down and moderate their
faith, but rather to grasp a fuller
truer faith in Christ.” - Timothy
Keller
-
Christians throughout history
have been instrumental in
confronting social injustice.
-
Christians and Christianity have
been the source of great good
for mankind.
Christians are probably the most
compelling argument for and
against their faith.
Ask yourself – Am I an obstacle or
a reason for others to believe?